I am awaiting my first DLG hopefully this week. A week ago I saw a hand launch contest where they actually launched their DLGs, Blaster 2 and 3s among others with fishline and medical tubing instead of throwing them. They just taped a hook on the DLGs and then launched them quite high this way.

Since I have flown Other planes (with motors for launching) but never thrown a DLG would this be a better way to launch my DLG to get to know my DLG before I start to throw it or would you suggest I throw it from day 1?

Personally, I would forget about the rubber tubing and work on your launch technique. First, it's really not that hard to launch a DLG; just spin and let it go. Getting the technique down to launch it really high takes some work, but you need to start somewhere. You don't have to toss it like you're trying to put it through a brick wall, just a nice gentle spin and release.

Second, one of the joys of DLGs is seeing a plane fly and thermal that you threw up into the sky yourself. That's when you get the 'addiction'. You and the plane are then acting in a partnership.

And third, obviously you are around people with DLGs, so they should be able to help you learn how to launch and work on your technique. Other pilots are going to be your best resource for information; the social aspect of flying DLGs is just another reason why the sport is so appealing.

But really, I'd say launch it like it's supposed to be launched so you get a feel for it. Otherwise flying DLGs will be like playing golf by launching the ball with a slingshot.

Here is how I did it for the first time last August. Start by having a friend just give it an overhand throw. We probably threw it a half dozen times like that to get it trimmed out and to get a feel for it. If you've been flying powered planes these feel a lot different on the sticks. They react much slower.

After that, we put the throwing blade in our hands and just did a standing side arm launch, no spin. Stand 90° to the direction you're going to throw it. That's the position you'll be in to release when you get up to full speed.

Once you've got the hang of that, try the spin. Do it slowly at first. When you get comfortable with that, pick up the speed a little. Keep in mind, you're not trying to throw it up. Throw it level to just a little bit of up incline and use a launch preset to get it to rotate up. If you try to throw it up all on your own, you'll dip the plane in the spin and that will cause you to strike the wingtip on the ground.

Start by overhand tossing the DLG and get it trimmed for a nice slow speed level flight.

Next move on to some slow spinning launches to get a feel for it. If the plane is trimmed to fly level and slow there should be enough up elevator trim that you can get away with not using a launch preset. You don't need to spin fast or try hard to throw the plane... a simple slow spin will give the plane at least two to three times the speed of the overhand toss, your dlg will travel a surprising distance on a soft throw.

When you are ready for faster more powerful launches you are going to want to trim the plane for a fast glide and start using a launch preset switch that gives you up elevator.

Just take it a step at a time and don't be afraid to ask questions along the way.
Nate

You don't need to wait for the plane to start to learn how to launch. Look up Jun's videos of launch sequence, and pay particular attention to the footwork. Practice the walk/spin steps, slowly, until it feels pretty natural. That is the biggest part of the throw and you don't even need a plane for it.